Modified Therapeutic Community Treatment for Offenders with MICA Disorders: Substance Use Outcomes

Christopher J. Sullivan, Karen McKendrick, Stanley Sacks, Steven M. Banks

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Correctional systems nationwide have increasingly turned to therapeutic community (TC) programs for the treatment of addiction in prisons. TC treatment, with modifications, has shown considerable promise in treating offenders who have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders, a group that has a mounting prevalence in prison populations. This article reports data from a study that randomly assigned male inmates with mental illness and chemical abuse (MICA) disorders (n = 139) to either a Modified TC (MTC) or a comparison group. Analyses revealed that the MTC group had significantly greater declines in alcohol and drug use at 12-months post-prison release. Additional analysis related positive substance use outcomes to reduced contact with the justice system and self-reported criminal activity. Implications for treatment and policy are discussed.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalThe American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Volume33
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007

Keywords

  • Co-occurring disorders
  • mental illness and chemical abuse disorder
  • modified therapeutic community
  • substance use disorder
  • treatment outcomes

Disciplines

  • Criminology and Criminal Justice

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